- Promises to secure a long term contract after penning three months
- Already played her debut game
TLOTLO KEBINAKGABO
National team netball player Cheludo David has promised to impress and secure a long term contract with Australian netball side Wood Panthers. The player jetted off to Australia a fortnight ago where she has penned a three months trial contract with Woods Panthers Netball Club which plays in the Premier League Division.
In an interview with Gazette Sport from Australia, David promised to work hard in ensuring that she secures a long term contract with the Australian side.. “I will also have to play well consistently something which I think it is not a big deal as the style of play here is not that different from the one in Botswana,” she said. “They play fast in the mid court ultimately dropping the pace when they go forth and it is basically what is done in Botswana.”
She played her maiden game with her new team this past Friday when they lost to Garville Netball Club. “I enjoyed my first game as I was not as nervous as I thought I would be. I believe I played well because I was consistent throughout the game, I even think my shooting was also good. The towering player however said language barrier remains her main challenge in Australia, “I now have to communicate in English whilst playing and I am not used to that.” David will play her second game this Friday.
Cheludo formed a formidable attack with fellow team mate Pearl Maribe during the U21 Netball World Youth Cup which was hosted by Botswana in 2017. She was also part of the netball team that won silver for Botswana during the 2016 Africa Union Sports Council Region 5 games. The Sebina born netball player has represented Botswana at both U21 and senior level.
Her trip to Australia was made possible by the Basadi Bomme Trust under the leadership of African Netball president and former Botswana Netball Association leader Tebogo Lebotse-Sebego. The trust mobilized some individuals to raise funds for her trip, amongst those who extended a helping hand to David are, My Spar My Botswana which parted ways with P20, 000 while Shashe West MP Fidelis Molao contributed close to P10, 000.
David joins a handful of local netball players who have plied their trade in Australia amongst them Sarona Hans who played for MacGregor Netball club